Out of reach: Lomega drops two games at area, misses state for first time since 2018

The answer: 2018.

The question: When was the last time the Lomega girls didn’t reach the state tournament.

You’re forgiven if it seems even longer than that, but that’s what happens when you’re the most tradition-rich program in the state that seemingly has a space on the Class B bracket reserved each season.

But the most recent string of consecutive appearances was snapped Saturday night when Lomega was downed 40-39 by No. 11 Leedey in a Class B area consolation championship in Enid.

It was the second loss in as many days for the Lady Raiders as they were defeated 61-46 by No. 6 Arnett in Friday’s area title game.

Top-ranked Lomega entered the area having lost just three games all season.

“We just picked a bad time to not shoot the ball very well,” said coach Kevin Lewallen as his team’s season ended with a 25-5 record.

Lomega was without the services Friday of leading scorer Reagan Snowden.

The freshman dislocated her kneecap early in the team’s regional championship win four days prior.

After a blistering first quarter that saw Arnett lead 19-18, Lomega’s offense hit a lull over the next 16 minutes.

That allowed the Lady Wildcats to build a 16-point lead that Lomega couldn’t dent in the fourth quarter.

Aliana Lawson and Kate Myers did their best to keep Lomega in it.

Lawson scored 12 in the first quarter and ended her night with 23. She made all four of Lomega’s 3-pointers.

Myers chipped in 15 points, scoring at least one field goal in every quarter.

But Arnett countered with four players in double figures, led by Kadie Mc-Cracken and Alli Tune, who scored 16 each.

But Lomega still had the chance Saturday.

Leedey came out on fire and scored 30 points in the first half, staking a fivepoint lead.

Snowden was back in the lineup and scored 10 first-half points for the Lady Raiders.

Lomega was down six entering the fourth, but started to come alive.

Hadley Ott scored five points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer with 3:55 left that gave the Lady Raiders a 39-35 lead.

But the shots stopped falling the rest of the night.

Leedey pulled within one before both teams traded empty possessions.

Ott had a chance to extend the lead with 23 seconds left, but missed a pair of free throws.

Then, with just under 8 seconds left, Leedey struck.

Blake Puffinbarger drove through Lomega’s defense and laid it off the glass to give the Lady Bison the lead.

After a timeout, Lomega was able to get Ott an open look in the corner, but her last-second effort didn’t fall.

Snowden led Lomega with 16 before fouling out.

Lawson finished with nine, Ott with eight and Paige Wheeler scored six.

Puffinbarger led Leedey with 15 points.